Ratings: Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 Soars

The triple-overtime Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks grew remarkably from last year's Game 1, delivering a ratings win for NBC on Wednesday night, according to preliminary numbers.

Though the numbers for NBC are approximate due to the nature of live sports, the network currently holds first place in the advertiser-preferred 18-49 demographic with a 2.4/7 and a very close second in total viewers with 6.42 million. Those numbers represent a 140 percent leap from last year's Game 1, which aired May 30.

In household ratings, Wednesday's game drew a 4.8 rating — a 100 percent leap over last year, and the highest rating for a Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 since 1997's match between Detroit and Philadelphia, which aired on Fox.

Fox, which aired "MasterChef" throughout its primetime slate, took a close second in ratings and third in total viewers with a 2.3/7 and 5.6 million.

Univision came in third in the demo with a 1.4/4 and fifth in total viewers with 3.6 million.

CBS was fourth in ratings but first in total viewers with a 1.2/4 and 6.44 million. The network aired repeats except for "American Baking Competition" at 8 p.m., which grew 9 percent to a 1.2/4 and had 5.9 million total viewers. A "C.S.I." repeat at 10 was the night's most-watched program with 7.2 million total viewers.

ABC came in fifth in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 1.1/3 and 4 million. Following a repeat of "The Middle," "Family Tools" at 8:30 drew a 0.9/3 with 3.7 million total viewers. After a "Modern Family" rerun, "How to Live With Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)" at 9:30 ticked down 8 percent to a series low of 1.2/3 and had 4 million total viewers. "Nightline: The Lookout" at 10 took a 1.1/3 with 3.9 million total viewers.